Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 256: Whose Daughter Is This?

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Whose Daughter Is This?

Being talked back to by a maid like that, Qi Yu didn’t get angry but merely raised her eyebrows slightly and looked towards the servant and her mistress, asking, "Who is your miss?"

In this capital city, she hadn’t seen all the ladies from prominent families, but at least she had seen most of them.

Since she was invited by the Empress to attend the birthday banquet, she must not be from an insignificant household.

She indeed became quite curious about this person’s identity.

Upon hearing her words, the maid lifted her head with a proud tone, "Our miss is the daughter of Marquis Liu!"

"Xiang Lan!" Liu Sisi scolded in a low voice, then bowed to Qi Yu and said, "I hope the Princess will forgive us, this servant of mine truly does not understand the rules."

Qi Yu saw that this purple-clad lady waited for the maid to finish speaking before making such a pretentious statement, and she guessed a bit in her heart.

It seemed that this person had come for her.

Shi Zhou didn’t understand all these twists and turns, and upon hearing Ms. Liu’s words, she also nodded slightly.

This maid indeed had no understanding of etiquette.

Although Qi Yu had never put on airs, she was, after all, the wife of Prince Qiu, and a maid should not speak to her in such a manner.

Qi Yu asked the young lady from the Liu Family, "What is your name?"

Liu Sisi lowered her eyes and replied softly, "Answering the Princess, humble girl’s name is Liu Sisi."

"Yang Liu Sisi, a name that suggests gentleness as willow strands. It’s a good name," Qi Yu said with a smile.

Liu Sisi also smiled, "I’m glad the Princess likes it."

Xiang Lan, seeing that the Princess of Prince Qiu Residence had not shown the slightest sign of anger, also gradually relaxed.

She had thought that she would be punished.

However, it seemed that the Princess of Prince Qiu Residence was not a person of schemes. If her own miss were to marry into the Prince Qiu Residence in the future, she wouldn’t need to worry about being bullied.

Xiang Lan lowered her head, silently thinking.

Before coming today, she had been called over by Madam Liu, who had instructed her meticulously.

She was to observe the Princess of Prince Qiu Residence closely and report back in detail upon her return.

Concerned with her own miss’s marital prospects and future, Xiang Lan naturally took this to heart.

Along the way, she was subtly observing Qi Yu, lest she miss any detail.

At first, Xiang Lan was somewhat timid and didn’t dare to look directly.

But seeing that the Princess of Prince Qiu Residence seemed oblivious, Xiang Lan’s courage grew.

Her actions were so obvious that even Shi Zhou noticed something was amiss.

Upon entering the harem, Liu Sisi was to pay her respects to the Empress, and Qi Yu was to visit the Noble Consort, so they parted ways in the Imperial Garden.

Having walked a distance, Shi Zhou turned her head to look back and indeed saw Xiang Lan hurriedly withdrawing her gaze.

She frowned and whispered to Qi Yu, "Why was that maid staring at you all this time?"

Even if she hadn’t seen before, she couldn’t possibly keep staring, right?

And wasn’t it said that people from the prominent families in the capital and those in the Imperial Palace were the most respectful of rules?

Where was there a servant who stared at their master like that?

Along the way, the palace maids and eunuchs they passed were always bowing their heads in greeting, she had never seen anyone dare to look up and stare at their master.

Thinking about it this way, Xiang Lan’s behavior became even more suspicious.

Qi Yu laughed and said indifferently, "If she likes to look, let her look. A few extra glances won’t cost me a chunk of flesh."

Shi Zhou wanted to say more but saw that they had arrived at a palace.

The eunuch guarding the gate saw her from a distance and hurried in to report.

Before long, all the palace maids and eunuchs of Ningxiang Pavilion had come out to greet her, kneeling all the way, "Princess Qi Yu."

It was the first time Qi Yu had witnessed such a scene; her usual visits to the Noble Consort’s place had never been accompanied by such pomp.

However, perhaps this was because the Noble Consort had now become the Virtuous Noble Consort, and her entourage had grown larger.

Qi Yu nodded slightly, and upon seeing the nanny Gui by the Virtuous Noble Consort’s side, smiled and called out, "Nanny Gui, it’s been a while. Is everything well with you?"

Nanny Gui, an elder by the Virtuous Noble Consort’s side, had also visited the Prince Residence several times to attend to the Princess and held genuine affection for the exceptionally beautiful and vivacious Princess.

She responded with a smile, "Replying to the Princess, all is well, it’s just that Her Highness has been constantly thinking of you and Prince Qi."

After speaking, she noticed the unfamiliar face following Qi Yu and asked, "How come the Princess didn’t bring Chunlan along today?"

As Qi Yu entered, she replied, "Nanny, you may not be aware, this is a younger sister I acknowledged in Jiangnan. She hasn’t seen much of the world, so I brought her to the palace for a visit."

As she spoke, she also gave Shi Zhou a look.

Shi Zhou immediately, albeit awkwardly, imitated the curtsey she had seen performed by the maid earlier.

Nanny Gui took one glance at her and stepped back in shock, "She looks too much alike!"

Qi Yu’s eyes flickered slightly, and she asked Nanny Gui, "What did you say, Nanny?"

Nanny Gui shook her head and muttered softly, "Nothing."

After watching them walk inside, she still patted her chest, relieved, and repeatedly sighed, "There truly are people who look so alike in this world!"

Once inside the inner hall, Qi Yu, accompanied by Shi Zhou, paid their respects to the Virtuous Noble Consort.

The Virtuous Noble Consort gestured slightly with her hand for them to sit.

She had overheard Qi Yu’s words in the hall and knew that the person beside her was not a servant, so she did not insist on the formalities and allowed her to stand to the side.

Qi Yu dismissed the attending palace attendants and said to the Virtuous Noble Consort, "How have you been feeling lately, Mother?"

The Virtuous Noble Consort nodded with a smile, "I was utterly exhausted a while ago, but I’ve been taking some medicine lately, and that has made things better."

Hearing this, Qi Yu frowned.

She quickly stepped forward and said, "Mother, let me take your pulse for you."

The Virtuous Noble Consort, knowing of her exceptional medical skills, did not refuse and extended her hand toward her.

After examining her pulse for a while and seeing that indeed there was nothing seriously wrong, Qi Yu finally felt at ease.

"It’s nothing serious, perhaps just a little ill from overexerting yourself recently."

Upon hearing this, the Virtuous Noble Consort also felt relieved and said, "Lately, His Majesty has been preoccupied with the General’s affairs, and he promoted me to Noble Consort, so I’ve been quite busy, which was indeed a bit too much."

However, Qi Yu blinked playfully and cheekily said, "Mother should have been promoted long ago."

The Virtuous Noble Consort chuckled and shook her head. Qi Yu then took her by the arm and accompanied her as she walked out slowly.

Shi Zhou quickly moved to follow them.

As they were leaving, the Virtuous Noble Consort suddenly recalled something, turned around, and instructed Nanny Gui, "Go fetch the item from my room."

Nanny Gui knew at once what she was referring to and agreed with a smile.

But before she left, she stole another quiet glance at Shi Zhou.

Soon, she returned with two Yingluo Locks, glittering in gold, very beautiful to behold.

"His Majesty bestowed these recently. I’m getting old and don’t wear such things anymore. It’s better for young women like you to wear them," said the Virtuous Noble Consort, smiling as she handed one to Qi Yu and the other to Shi Zhou.

She had initially thought to give one to Song Yuting, but after Song Yuting had caused her no small amount of trouble recently, she decided not to mention it.

Qi Yu put on the Yingluo Lock and then helped Shi Zhou put on hers, laughing, "You’ve got yourself quite the bargain, these items from Mother are all of high quality!"

The Virtuous Noble Consort pointed at her and said with a laugh, "You’re the one who knows how to speak sweetly!"

After finishing, she turned to the still lower-headed Shi Zhou and inquired, "Which family’s young lady are you? How did she manage to ’kidnap’ you to come here?"